There’s one grand complication to rule them all, the perpetual calendar chronograph, and Patek Philippe is the king when it comes to making them. The reference 3970 was introduced in 1986 as the successor to the legendary and ultra-collectible reference 2499 perpetual calendar chronograph. This ref. 3970EP (E = étanche, which means waterproof in French; P = platinum) dates back to 1996. The watch features a 36 mm 950 platinum case with lovely pump pushers and a sapphire see-through case back through which the exquisitely hand finished manual-winding movement can be viewed. The beautiful opaline silver dial sports pointed stick indexes and matching pointed stick hands. Two apertures at the 12 o’clock position reveal the day and month mechanism. The dial features three sub-dials. The recessed sub-dial at the 9 o’clock position displays a running seconds as well as a 24-hour hand while the recessed sub-dial at the 3-hour position incorporates a 30-minute chronograph counter and a leap year indicator. Finally on the lower sub-dial we find a charming moon phase indicator, which is surrounded by a date complication. The watch comes on a black alligator leather strap with a platinum Patek Philippe deployant clasp and an Extract From The Archives. Next to that there is a platinum caseback that can be put on during service, which is included as well.
- extrasExtract From The Archives, Service Papers
- year1996
- reference3970EP
- modelPerpetual Calendar Chronograph
